The Children – The Killing

The Children
The Killing
1986 (no label)
Costa Mesa, California, USA

1. Everything
2. Be With You
3. The Killing
4. Carry Me Away

The Children is kind of known as the band that led to The Violet Burning, although it also led to many other bands like Acoustic Shack and The Shekinah Brothers. They also really had their own style, even though they are still in the same general alternative rock vein. Violet Burning fans will recognize the song “The Killing,” as it was later re-recorded in a much different style for Chosen in 1989. This is the first of the three demos they recorded, followed in 1987 by either Darker or their two-song demo. Not sure which one came first. I also don’t know if there is a cover for this one or not, but without the cover I can’t say for sure who was a part of the band at this time.

Missing Information: Who played on this tape?

Autumn Rose – Autumn Rose

Autumn Rose
Autumn Rose
1988 (no label)
Orange County, California, USA

Michael Misiuk – Vocals, guitars
John Magness – Drums
Laura Misiuk – BGV’s

1. I Will Be There
2. In Love Again
3. I Surrender

So there really wasn’t much information on this demo, but at some point I came across the member list online somewhere. Michael and Laura Misiuk would go on to form Acoustic Shack after this demo. You can definitely tell it is them on this demo, although the sound here is closer to Michael’s later work in the Kreepdowns. There is also a noticeable influence of early Violet Burning, which would make sense as the Misiuk’s were connected to Michael Pritzl (Laura is his sister, and Michael has been a member of the band). None of these songs made it on to Acoustic Shack albums, and as far as I know their next recording was the 1990 Acoustic Shack demo. Michael also had at least one solo demo before this called The Bride sometime around 1986 that I have never heard.

Acoustic Shack – Demo

Acoustic Shack
Demo
1990? (no label)

Michael Misiuk – Lead vocals, guitars
Laura Misiuk – Background vocals

1. Little Boy
2. Run Soldier Run
3. Dedicated Man
4. Love Drug
5. Waiting for the Last

I am not sure if this is one demo or a collection of songs. These were some tracks sent to me a while back. Despite their name, the band has proven to be more of an electric-guitar based alternative rock band, and that is true on here as well. Most of the songs here only seem to be on this demo, except for “Waiting for the Last” which re-appeared on 1993’s Frett Buzz (Broken Records) in a much different format. I think that “Little Boy” was also re-written into something else, but can’t place it right now. To be honest, these songs sound closer to Michael’s later band The Kreepdowns than Acoustic Shack. I wonder if these were Misiuk demos that got labeled Acoustic Shack songs incorrectly later?

Missing Information: Cover scans, who played drums?